#walkhikewander
Start: Kara Crescent, Airlie Beach
End: Kara Crescent, Airlie Beach
Distance: 8.2 km
Time: 2 hrs 45minutes
Grade: Difficult
At the top of Kara Crescent is where the Conway Circuit starts a challenging 3 day, 27.3 km hike in Conway National Park. The Honeyeater Lookout Trail is the first leg of the great walk with a slight detour, We walked it as an out and back hike
After climbing some well constructed timber stairs from the start point, the trail quickly starts the ascent. The path is well graded for the first few hundred metres then becomes quite rocky under foot as it continues.
Under the shade of tropical forests the path winds it’s way up to and then follows the ridgeline in a gradual steady ascent until the junction where the detour to the lookout begins. Those doing the 3 day hike across the range have the choice to continue on, or complete the 3.6km return to Honeyeater Lookout, we highly recommend it as the views are worth the extra effort.
The forest canopy keeps you shaded from the hot sun all the way to the lookout where there is a bench to rest and take in the spectacular turquoise waters, the Whitsunday Passage and the reef in the distance. Being a sailors paradise, the waters are full of yachts and cruisers and on our visit a large cruise liner was moored just off Airlie Beach.
We didn’t see any honeyeaters as the grass trees were not in flower, so I guess we have at least one reason to return.
Taking the same path back to the trail head was fairly quick, although the loose gravel and rocks in sections is cause to take it easy.
A rewarding walk for those with a high level of fitness. There is not a lot in the way of views along the walk however the lookout at the top provides a perspective on the Whitsunday region worth the climb.
we - Walked - it 